Patriarch of Alexandria calls on all local churches to participate in Pan-Orthodox Council

Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros II called on all local churches to participate in the Pan-Orthodox Council, to be held in Crete on June 16-27, reports romfea.gr.

Patriarch called the Pan-Orthodox Council historic. According to him, the Orthodox Church should stay away from the political, national and racial interests. Patriarch brought the example of the Catholic Church and Pope Francis." It is inconceivable that because of the personal aspirations and sorrows, because of the coordination role, played by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, some churches are not attending the Council, although it was decided unanimously," said Bishop.

Patriarch supposes that Bulgaria is unlikely to change its mind, unlike the three other churches that haven’t said the definite "No." "It is unthinkable today, when the world is suffering, to set matters of who sits where. It is difficult for any of the Church to say "No" to revoke its decision," said Bishop. He suggested that the Primates, who express views on superiority of one people over another, leave their pews and visit Africa to "make sense of "poor "and "humble" Christ."

Recall that so far four Local Churches – Bulgarian, Antiochian, Serbian and Georgian – have refused to participate in the Council.

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